Special Photo
Students pose with Heritage High School teacher Darrell Huckaby in his classroom last week and showing off their support by wearing "We love Huck" T-shirts. Students and staff wanted to show their support to Huckaby as he continues radiation treatments for cancer.

CONYERS -- Heritage High School teacher and Citizen columnist Darrell Huckaby learned a lesson in caring last week when he walked into the school and was greeted with students wearing red "We love Huck" shirts.

The support is for Huckaby's personal battle against cancer. He is currently undergoing treatment for cancer that spread from his prostate last year.

Heritage teacher Julie Kimble said she, fellow teacher Jim Hough and students had worked on the T-shirts for some time, with the biggest challenge keeping it a secret until Huckaby walked into the school last Monday.

Kimble said the demand for the T-shirts was overwhelming -- but not surprising. "He's touched so many lives here," she said. "Everybody wanted a shirt."

Huckaby was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year as he prepared for a surgery. He said it appeared the cancer was taken care of after initial treatment but reappeared before the holiday season.

He started 23 radiation treatments for this round and has completed 12. Huckaby said he hopes this will take care of the cancer. If not, doctors will determine the next step, he said.

Huckaby keeps everybody up to date on his Facebook page. He has also written about his cancer in his column. In a column from Aug. 17 Huckaby used the opportunity to encourage men to get a PSA test for prostate cancer.

"And I told you all of that to tell you this," Huckaby wrote. "Wednesday morning I will be taking the first step in my battle against cancer, and I am not ashamed to admit that while I have all the confidence in the world in a positive outcome, I would appreciate the prayers of everyone who reads these words."